The short answer is: Whichever one you want to learn! There are a lot of reasons new why players usually choose one or the other, but often these are the wrong reasons, or not valid reasons altogether. Here is the most common misconception, followed by the truth!

MYTH – Acoustic Guitar Is Easier

TRUTH – Well, yes it is if you’re playing something easy. Ok, so objectively Jimi Hendrix is harder to play than Oasis, but then Chet Atkins is objectively harder to play than The Cribs. There is almost infinite repertoire on both instruments, ranging from the beginner strum-alongs, to the virtuoso solos. The difficulty is determined by the song, your level, your practice, and certainly by how easy to play the guitar itself is, but this means how high the strings are from the fretboard (“the action”), how bulky the body is, what size (or “gauge”) the strings are, and so on. But not on whether the guitar is made the be amplified or not – That is a stylistic concern. And so should your decision be.

ANSWER – Think about these things –

– Who are your favourite guitarists/bands?

– What music do you want to play?

– What are your aims for your playing?

If you love Bob Dylan or Ed Sheeran and you want to be able to play an open mic night or get hold of the guitar at a party, then the answer is Acoustic.

If you’re into the Foo Fighters or Red Hot Chili Peppers and you want to start a band, it’s electric all the way.

So think about what and how you want to play, and follow that route. Ultimately, the instruments work in exactly the same way, so you’re not too far committed down one road, it’s just that each type lends itself slightly better to different styles of music. So consider the styles!